Diageo chief set to be next Compass chairman

Paul Walsh is stepping down at Diageo this summer after 13 years at the helm. Photograph: Anthony Devlin/PA

The long-serving boss of the Guinness and Smirnoff firm Diageo is reportedly in line to claim one of the top leadership jobs currently up for grabs in the FTSE 100.

Paul Walsh, who is stepping down at Diageo this summer after 13 years at the helm, is reported to be the next chairman of the catering and services multinational Compass.

The role, which is currently held by Sir Roy Gardner, is one of a number of top-flight vacancies that also include Lloyds Banking Group, WPP, Centrica and GlaxoSmithKline.

The Sunday Times said Walsh's likely appointment at Compass would boost its international expansion prospects as he has overseen deals in Turkey, Brazil, India and China. Under his watch at Diageo, the firm's market value has grown by about £30bn, helped by deals such as its acquisition of the Seagram drinks empire.

Ivan Menezes will take over as chief executive at Diageo from 1 July, though Walsh will remain for a year's transition period.

Walsh began his career with Grand Metropolitan in 1982. The drinks firm merged with Guinness in 1997 to create Diageo.

The Surrey-based Compass, which handles catering at major sporting events such as Wimbledon and the Cheltenham Gold Cup, made profits of £1.1bn in the year to last September.